Controlling and measuring garment



1958 'H. LOEFFEL ET AL CONTROLLING AND MEASURING GARMENT -4 Sheets-Sheetl Filed Sept. 2, 195 5 INVENTORS Q. ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1958 H. LOEFFEL ETAL 2,858,332

CONTROLLING AND MEASURING GARMENT I Filed Sept. 2, 1955 I 4 Sheets-Sheet2 ATTORNEYS 1953 L. H. LOEFFEL ET AL ,8

' CONTROLLING AND MEASURING GARMENT Filed Sept. 2,v 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet3 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR5 Nov. 4, 1958 H. LOEFFEL ET AL 2,858,832

- CONTROLLING AND MEASURING GARMENT 7 Filed Sept. 2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet4 45 F H 48 E g 3 s 5 E; s a 5 a i o ca 5 X INVgNTORs United StatesPatent 2,858,832 CONTROLLING AND MEASURING GARMENT Lester H. Loeifel,West Haven, and Emory C. Champagne, Woodbridge, Conn, assignors to TheBerger Brothers Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of ConnecticutApplication September 2, 1955, Serial No. 532,203 Claims. (Cl. 128-550)This invention relates to a controlling and measuring garment, and moreparticularly to a garment designed to be fitted to a figure for which acorset is to be made so that the figure will be controlled or molded tothe desired form, and which garment will also facilitate the taking ofmeasurements after the form or figure has been properly molded andcontrolled.

After measurements have been taken over the controlling garment, thecorset is made to the measurements secured, and the figure of the wearerresulting from the corset will be accurately predetermined bymeasurements taken over the controlling garment.

The garment is used particularly by corsetieres and fitters, and servesnot only to mold and control the figure but also is provided withmeasuring devices which will greatly facilitate the taking ofmeasurements by the corsetiere. Particular provision is made for asubject which requires that one side or one portion of a garment be madelarger or smaller than the corresponding portion at the other side sothat the two sides of the resulting garment are not of identical shapeor size. In other words, it is desirable to bring the center line of thefront and back of the'garment correctly to the center line of the figureat the front and back while at the same time providing for a differencein measurement between the center back and center front on one side andthat on the'other side.

It is also desirable in a garment of this kind to provide for thefitting and measuring of as great a range of figures as possible. thatthe corsetiere be able to employ one controlling garment for figures ofa great range of sizes. The present garment has been particularlydesigned with this in mind as well as the proper control of the figureand the case In other words, it is desirable 2,858,832 Patented Nov. 4,1958 adjustment of the garment;

Fig. 6 is a back view of the garment;

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a portion of the back of the garment;

Fig. 8 is a view of a front panel of modified form suitable for use inconnection with figures of certain types; and

Fig. 9 is a rear elevational view of the upper portion of the back ofthe garment showing provision for an extension of the back of thegarment.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention there is shown inthe drawings a garment having a back section designated particularly bythe numeral 10, side: sections 11 and 12, and a front panel 13. Betweenthe front panel 13, which is of special construction, and the sidesections 11 and 12 are front sections 14 and 15- which are of a specialconstruction to be described hereinafter.

These front sections are secured to the side section by lines ofstitching as shown at 16 and 17 and secured to the garment at theselines of stitching are adjustment straps 18 upon one side andcorresponding straps 19 upon the other side, these straps extendingforwardly and being provided at their inner or forward ends withfastening means of some typesuch as the hooks or buckles 20 and 21. 1

The front panel shown more especially in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is provided ateach side edge thereof with fabric loops 22 and 23 to receive thebuckles 20 and 21, and it is understood these buckles are adjustable onthe straps 18' and 19 respectively so as to take in or let out thegarment with respect to its girth. This panel is also constructed asshown in Fig. 2 in the form of a pocket comprising front and backmembers 24 and 25. These members are stitched together at their upperand lower edges as shown at 26 and 27 but leaving one front edge open asshown at 28 to provide for the inof taking measurements after thegarment has been fitted p,

scribedwhich may not only be used to mold and control the figures ofsubjects of a wide range of sizes, but will facilitate the taking ofmeasurements after thegarment has been fitted upon the subject.

, Still another object of the invention is to provide a fitting andcontrolling garment which may be capable of adjustment over a wide rangeof sizes and also be V capable of being correctly fitted to figureswhich may not have the same measurements on one side of the body thatobtain upon the other.

To theseand other ends the invention consists in the with these loops.

novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter I describedand claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a controlling and measuringgarment embodying our invention;

The loops 22 and 23 are provided at each side edge of.

the member 24.

As shown in Fig. l, the panel 13 is used in its smallest:

size or width, that is, with the member 29 folded into-- the pocketformed by the front and back members 24- and 25, as shown in Fig. 2, andit will be seen that theedges of this front panel overlie the edges ofthe front: sections 14 and 15. The straps 18 and 19 will be, of" course,taken up to a greater extentfor a smaller size: figure and the buckles20 and 21 adjusted thereon so as; to effect a greater overlap of theadjacent adges of the front sections 14 and 15 by the center panel ifnecessary If the size of the figure is such thatthe panel 13, as: shownin Fig. 2, would not cover the space between the edges of the frontsections 14 and 15, the flap or exten-- sion 29 may be drawn out of thepocket and extended outwardly to the right, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.For

this purpose loops 30 are provided upon the ede of the member 29 so thatwhen this member is extended, as shown in Fig. 3, the buckles 21 on theright-hand side of the garment, as shown in the drawings, will beengaged As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the front panel has beenextended to its greatest size 01' width.

It may sometimes occur that the figure is of such a size that theextension of the flap or member 29 of "the front panel is insufficient.It is noted that 'it is desirable i 3 o have 1. apsbe wss the i us9ti9fl$ 9 the e ment in order that the flesh of the subject be properlycontrolled and confined. In case the front panel when ed-w l not s u thes ars betw en the d e of the fruut'sestiqus 1 and 5. hat? e t ns a s haprovision for being extended, as is shown more especially in Fig in co et on w th se tisus 4,- A the sect on .5 is simi a on ru ted a epa t d sp i will not be necessary.

As shown in Fig. 4, the section 114; consists of a front element ,2. nda r a l m nt 3 thetu Qr ls tween them a pocket having an open front edgeas; into which m y norma ly be old d a ap, 5 W sh s: a W t miat qn of te memb r 33 Qn'fi urss of d n ry e these front sections 14 and 15 areemployed, as shown in Fi 4. ith th e t o 3 olded into e, P 9 4 and thisis llustrated in both Figures 1 and 3. However, upon an exceptionallylarge figure, as shown in Fig. 5, the flaps or extensions 35 may bepulled out of the pockets and extended over the front of the subjectbelow the front panel 13. When the members 35 are extended in thismanner, it will usually be in connection with the extension of the frontpanel 13 so that this panel will consist, as shown in Fig. 5, of the twosections 24 and 29.

Wi h this constr ction; it will e een a t garment will fit a large rangeof sizes as to girth and at the same time will completely enclose thefigure so as to properly control it.

In order to facilitate the taking of measurements, both front and backof the garment are provided with indicia jto indicate the length of thegarment from the waistline and also the girth. For example, as shown inFig. l, the waistline is indicated at 37 and numerals 1 and Z are placedabove the waistline to show measurements 1 and 2 inches thereabove. Thecorsetiere or fitter can then ascertain the desired height of thegarment above the Waistline for this particular. figure without the useda tape measure. Likewise numerals 5, 6, 7 and so forth are provided onthe front panel 13 as well as on the side sections 11 and 12 so that thelength of the garment below the waistline at the'front and hips may bereadily ascertained. Likewise measurement of the girth of the garment isfacilitated by the employment of the straps 18 and 19. for this purpose.For example, one side of the strap 18 is provided with the indicia24,25, 26 and so forth, which indicia measure the entire girth of thegarment from the center line '40 of the front panel. In other words, ifthe free end of one of the straps 18 is brought over the front line 40of the garment, as shown at the upper por tion of Fig. l, and thenumeral 25 appears over the line 40, this will mean that the figuremeasures 25 inches at the waist. Therefore, it is seen that themeasurement is automatically made by the adjustment of the strap 18' tofit the subject. The only thing necessary to do is to bringthe'strapback over. thefront of the garment to the line 441 as thefigures are so provided on the strap that they are measured frorn theline 40 as a zero point around the garment.

Likewise provision is made for measuring one. side of the garment, thatis from the center line of the back to the center line of the front. Asshown in Fig. 1, the backs'of'the straps 19 are provided with indicia 1213, 14,15, and so forth, which indicia measure from the center of theback so that when this strap is brought over the front panel 13 and thefigures lined up with the center line 40, the measurement upon one sideof the corset can taken. When this is subtracted from the fullmeasurement, that of the other side will be known. in this way thecenter line 40 can be lined up at the center of the front of the figureand likewise the center of. the back section can be, lined up at thecenter of the back ofthe figure. and measurements upon each side can begotten so'fthatjthe garment made according to these measurements willfit properly and be centered at the front and back notwithstanding thefact that the measurements of one side may not be the same as those ofthe other side. These measurement indicia may, of course, be placed uponas many of the straps 18 and 19 as are desired.

The back of the garment is shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 7 fromwhich it will be noted that the waistline is shown at 41 and indiciaabove and below this line are provided for ascertainment of the lengthof the back of the garment. Moreover, in order that there e adjustmentof the upper edge of the garment particularly at the region of the lowerportion of the shoulder blades or just below the shoulder blades, theedges of the back section are not stitched to the side sections 11 and12 adjacent the top edges of the garment but are left dis- Connected atthis, point. The side sections are provided with flaps or flies 42 whichare overlapped by the upper portions 43 of the back section so that,while there will be no opening in the garment at this point-that is theflesh will be covered and. controlled at all points-mover.- theless thiswill allow expansion. of the upper edge of. the garment as is necessaryto accommodate the figure of the subject. This necessaryexpansionpermitted by the sliding of these flaps 42 within the upper portions 43of the back sections may, of course, be different on oneside. than onthe other, and the position ofthe flaps may be indicated by the indiciaconsisting of the letters A, B', C, D and so forth, shown at 45 on Fig.7.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings we have shown a front panel which may beemployed in place of the panel 13, shown the loops 22 and 23 previouslydescribed in connection with that form of our invention shown in Figs.1- to 7: The three loops 48 on each side of the panel 46 will beconnected to the upper three of the straps 18 and 19 ofthe garment. Inorder that the lower portion of the panel 46 may be tightened across'theabdomen, either of the lower straps 18 or 3190f Fig. 1- may be connectedto loops at the ends of the straps 49 and 50"providedupon the lowerfront portion of the panel 46 and secured. thereto at 51. The ends ofthe straps 49 and 50 ar'e. loose so that they/may assume an inclinedposit-ion neeessary to accommodate the lower straps 18 and- 1 9} It issometimes found desirable to provide foran extension at the back ofthegarment in the event that a corset or girdle with a longer or higherback is-desired. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 9 wherein the backsection of the garment is. providedwith bohepockets 53 and 54 open.attheir upper ends. Bonesor; stays 55 may be inserted in these pocketsand received in similar pockets on the inner face of an extension panel57- which extends upwardly above the edge of the back section. Straps58- may bese'cured at their ends P e i r s fig 5 f i rfadi stab ew u somextent by means of. the slidingjfit of the stays inl'the, pockets 53 and54, andprovides a, surface upon which measurements may be taken from thewaistlinefil t when the proper height of the back section has beendeter:

. mined by the fitter. The se ction'57 also provides a support to whicha brassiere may be securedjif, desired, the. straps from the brassierepassing argund under; the arms to be secured to the extensionsec tion inpla, .df the straps 58. I e

It will be apparent from the aboyethatthererhas been a sed mbin t n intrul a ment. an a measuring garment in that'while the garment is pro- IIt maybe noted that this panel is provided at its side edges with loops48 designed to receive the buckles 20' and 21 upon the straps 18 and 19,these loops 48 serving-the same function as} vided with its ownmeasuring means, at the same time it is a controlling garment in that itis not of skeleton form but will enclose and confine the figure of thesubject at all locations. It is also contemplated that the garment willbe useful not only in connection with the fitting of corsets, but alsoin dress shops in connection with the fitting of dresses as it may beemployed as a controlling and measuring garment that may be employed bya fitter in a dress shop in fitting and altering a dress.

While we have shown and described some preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all ofthe details shown, but is capable of modification and variation withinthe spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is:

1. A body-encircling controlling garment comprising back, side, andfront portions, the latter portions having free edges disposed in spacedrelation and a front panel spanning the space between, and adapted tooverlie, said edges, said panel consisting of two plies of material toprovide a vertically extending pocket open at one side edge thereof, anextension member connected at one of its side edges to the side edge ofone of said plies to form a continuation thereof and adapted to befolded over said ply and inserted into said pocket, and means attachedto the side edges of the panel and to the garment by which it isadjustably secured to the garment.

2. A body-encircling controlling garment comprising back, side, andfront portions, the latter portions having free edges disposed in spacedrelation and a front panel spanning the space between, and adapted tooverlie, said edges, said panel consisting of two plies of material toprovide a vertically extending pocket open at one side edge thereof, anextension member connected at one of its side edges to the side edge ofone of said plies to form a continuation thereof and adapted to befolded over said ply and inserted into said pocket, and means attachedto one side edge of the panel and to the free edge of the extensionmember to adjustably secure the panel to the garment.

3. A body-encircling controlling garment comprising back, side, andfront portions, the latter portions having free edges disposed in spacedrelation and a front panel spanning the space between, and adapted tooverlie, said edges, means to adjustably secure said panel to thegarment at the sides of the front thereof, and each of said frontportions comprising two superposed plies of material having a verticallyextending opening therebetween at their front edges to form a verticallyextending pocket, one of said plies of each portion having a foldableflap secured thereto at the front edge thereof which may be disposed insaid pocket or may be extended about said fold line to increase thewidth of said portion, and dispose the free edges of said flaps beneaththe front panel.

4. A body-encircling garment as in claim 1 wherein each of said frontportions comprises two superposed plies of material having a verticallyextending opening therebetween at their front edges to provide avertically extending pocket open at the free edge of said portion, andone of the plies of each portion having an extension flap secured at oneedge to said portion and having an opposite free edge foldable into saidpocket.

5. A body-encircling controlling garment comprising back, side, andfront portions, the latter portions having free edges disposed in spacedrelation and a front panel spanning the space between, and adapted tooverlie, said edges, said panel consisting of two plies of material toprovide a vertically extending pocket open at one side edge thereof, anextension member connected at one of its side edges to the side edge ofone of said plies to form a continuation thereof and adapted to befolded over said ply and inserted into said pocket, andvertically-spaced-apart loops secured to the side edges of said panel,and straps secured to the front portions of the garment and adjustablyattached to said loops.

6. A body-encircling garment having back, side and front fabric sectionssecured together, said front sections having free edges lying in spacedrelation, and a front panel adapted to span the space between, andoverlie, said edges, horizontally disposed, adjustable straps secured tocertain of said sections and to the side edges of said panel to securethe sections of the garment together adjustably and to form anuninterrupted body-confining garment, and certain of said straps havingmeasuring indicia thereon from which the measurement of the girthdimension of the garment may be read, said indicia being arranged toindicate the measurement around the garment from the center of saidfront panel.

7. A body-encircling garment having back, side and front fabric sectionssecured together, said front sections having free edges lying in spacedrelation, and a front panel adapted to span the space between, andoverlie, said edges, horizontally disposed, adjustable straps secured tocertain of said sections and to the side edges of said panel to form anuninterrupted body-confining garment, and certain of said straps havingmeasuring indicia thereon from which the measurement of the girthdimension of the garment may be read, said indicia being arranged toindicate the measurement around the garment from the center of the backsection to the center of the front panel.

8. A body-encircling garment havin'g back, side and front fabricsections secured together, said front sections having free edges lyingin spaced relation, and a front panel adapted to span the space between,and overlie,

said. edges, straps adjustably secured to certain of said sections andto the edges of said panel to form an uninterrupted body-confininggarment, said front panel being of outwardly convex form at its lowerportion to conform to the abdomen of the wearer and having securingstraps thereon at the convex portion thereof, and means adjustablysecuring said last-named straps to the garment.

9. A body-encircling garment having back, side and front fabric sectionssecured together, said front sections having free edges lying in spacedrelation, and a front panel adapted to span the space between, andoverlie, said edges, straps adjustably secured to certain of saidsections and to the edges of said panel to form an uninterruptedbody-confining garment, the adjacent edges of said back and sidesections being unsecured for a short distance adjacent the upper edge ofthe garment below the shoulder blades, and a fly on one of said sectionshaving a free edge extending under the edge of the other section topermit spreading of said edges while closing the opening therebetween.

10. A body-encircling garment having back, side and front fabricsections secured together, said front sections having free edges lyingin spaced relation, and a front panel adapted to span the space between,and overlie, said edges, straps adjustably secured to certain of saidsections and to the edges of said panel to form an uninterruptedbody-confining garment, the adjacent edges of said back and sidesections being unsecured for ashort distance adjacent the upper edge ofthe garment below the shoulder blades, and a fly on one of said sectionshaving a free edge extending under the edge of the other section topermit spreading of said edges while closing the opening therebetween,and indicia on said fly to indicate the adjustment of said edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS631,620 Cousins Aug. 22, 1899 1,207,231 Siegel Dec. 5, 1916 2,283,108Versoy May 12, 1942 2,309,501 Cohen Jan. 26, 1943 2,374,654 Cooke May 1,1,945

